I took a sip of tea and set the cup down on the small round table in front of us.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. I opened it immediately, and Master Mingde walked in slowly.
I was more concerned about my cousin's condition. Ghostworm, with a mysterious smile, replied:
Master Mingde made a Buddhist gesture and walked toward Rachel Lan. Suddenly, Yuna Ji blocked Master Mingde's path.
Immediately, Isabelle Frost's expression tightened as she stared at Ghostworm.
Master Mingde smiled kindly and shook his head.
"Master Leo Yuan?"
I immediately muttered, and Ghostworm nodded.
Ethan Zhang, have you forgotten? They kept me locked up in Universal Temple for a hundred years! Someday, I will make them pay for that humiliation.
"That's what I always thought, and so did all of Buddhism. But in reality, my junior brother didn't die. He came to the Dark Banquet a long time ago and became one of its members. I only learned this recently, after I received the invitation."
I widened my eyes and swallowed hard as Ghostworm continued speaking.
"The reason we've joined forces is to find my junior brother, Master Leo Yuan. He holds certain things that are crucial to our Buddhist order. This is also what Master Frank Yuan instructed us to do. Now, state your intentions—if we can help, we'll assist you, Ethan Zhang."
I gave a quiet 'mm,' scrutinizing Ghostworm in disbelief. He seemed like a completely different person now, not at all like the Ghostworm I knew. But that thought vanished as soon as I met Isabelle Frost's cold gaze.
I looked at Yuna Ji in surprise. Master Mingde stepped beside Rachel Lan, waved his sleeve, and a golden light enveloped her. I saw Rachel Lan's tense face relax a little. Then Master Mingde sat cross-legged and began to chant.
Almost immediately, I felt uncomfortable all over, and so did the other ghosts. Redmond looked particularly annoyed at Master Mingde.
At that moment, Master Jianyun was about to open his eyes, but Master Richard Ming stood up first.
Master Mingde didn't reply. Indeed, Buddhist power affects ghosts, but none of the ghosts in this room are low-level.
Yuna Ji kept glaring fiercely at Master Mingde, cheeks puffed in anger.
"Ethan, I'm sorry I can't be of much help."
At the door, Vincent Swallow muttered something behind us. I shook my head.
"I'll leave my cousin's situation to you, Master Swallow."
You probably don't know, Ethan Zhang, but Yuna Ji left a huge mess behind. For a while, the Underworld was really troubled. All the other Ghost Sovereigns had gone quiet, but Yuna Ji just kept making trouble in the living world.
"Do you really believe that? Can Ghostworm really go back to who he was? So many souls, so many lives lost—none of that can be erased with a single severing of past karma. His reincarnation was built on immense sacrifice, and he took over Boss Chang's body. Now Boss Chang's soul has vanished; he's probably dead."
I stared quietly at Vincent Swallow. Boss Chang, Claire Zhang's foster father, once helped me reach Lady Meng's abode and then enter reincarnation. I still remember what he told me—to take care of Claire. But I failed.
"Maybe so. Sorry, Ethan, I don't completely trust Master Owen. I'm still watching."
"Is that so!"
I muttered and started to walk away. At this, Isabelle Frost let out a cold laugh.
"He calls that guy 'Master.'"
Rachel Lan had already fallen asleep, sleeping soundly. Bathed in golden light, she looked much more relaxed.
After a while, Master Mingde finally stood up.
Isabelle Frost muttered something, while Master Richard Ming, walking ahead, smiled kindly.
No need to worry, Mr. Zhang. This lady is also a chosen one, blessed with great fortune. I merely helped her calm her mind and body. I will think of a solution; perhaps when she wakes, there will be a way.
"Is that so? Well, when disaster strikes you one day, maybe you won't be able to say that anymore."
Isabelle Frost said with some dissatisfaction. Master Richard Ming shook his head.
"Miss, let's not bring this up again—saving lives is more important."
We hurried along and soon returned to the street. Isabelle Frost floated up, a burst of golden light appeared, and a robe billowed out. Master Richard Ming sat cross-legged on it, and I rose as well, quickly flying toward District 13.
Soon we arrived back at District 13 and found our hotel. The others had already returned. We went in first, while Master Richard Ming chose to enter through the lower door.
"Ethan, did you find Howard Zhang?"
Master Mingde didn't intend to reply. He just smiled, sat down quietly, and closed his eyes to meditate.
"It's okay, Roxie. You'll be fine soon."
I quickly explained the situation to everyone. Redmond snorted in disdain at the doorway, while Yuna Ji pouted, clearly in a bad mood.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. I opened it immediately, and Master Richard Ming walked in slowly.
"Amitabha, benefactors."
Master Richard Ming made a Buddhist gesture and walked toward Rachel Lan. Suddenly, Yuna Ji blocked his path.
"Old monk, I was planning to settle the score with you."
Master Richard Ming smiled kindly and shook his head.
"Can you not make a scene?"
I shouted anxiously, grabbing Yuna Ji.
"Ethan, have you forgotten? They kept me locked up in Universal Temple for a hundred years! Someday, I will make them pay for that humiliation."
"That was your own stupidity, Yuna Ji."
Redmond suddenly spoke. Yuna Ji acted deeply wounded, fake-crying as she rubbed her eyes, then huffed and stomped off, arms crossed.
"That's exactly how it was. You all know, she brought it on herself."
Redmond muttered. Basil Bertram and Lord Shenyan both nodded, while Mona Ouyang burst out laughing, clutching her stomach, even Yvonne May's expression softened.
I looked at Yuna Ji in surprise. Master Richard Ming stepped beside Rachel Lan, waved his sleeve, and a golden light enveloped her. I saw Rachel's tense face relax a little. Then Master Ming sat cross-legged and began to chant.
Almost immediately, I felt uncomfortable all over, and so did the other ghosts. Redmond looked particularly annoyed at Master Ming.
"Monk, what do you think you're doing?"
Master Ming didn't reply. Indeed, Buddhist power affects ghosts, but none of the ghosts in this room are low-level.
Yuna Ji kept glaring fiercely at Master Ming, cheeks puffed in anger.
"After our fight, you still hadn't recovered your strength, yet you went around causing trouble in the living world, acting like you'd already conquered the ghost realm. Yuna Ji, aren't you being a bit naive?"
"Redmond, you..."
Yuna Ji immediately glared at Redmond in protest. Thinking back to the situation in Exile Town, it really was all Yuna Ji's doing. After the battle of the seven Ghost Sovereigns, Yuna Ji wasn't badly hurt, so she started causing trouble in the living world.
"You probably don't know, Ethan, but Yuna Ji left a huge mess behind. For a while, the Underworld was really troubled. All the other Ghost Sovereigns had gone quiet, but Yuna Ji just kept making trouble in the living world."
I responded with an 'oh,' then grinned at Yuna Ji. She sat down, glaring at us with clear dissatisfaction.
"Can we not bring up those things?"
"So you see, you brought this on yourself."
Mona Ouyang immediately chimed in. Yuna Ji jumped up, glaring angrily at her.
"Enough, let's drop it."
Lord Shenyan spoke up, and the room finally quieted down.
Rachel Lan had already fallen asleep, sleeping soundly. Bathed in golden light, she looked much more relaxed.
After a while, Master Richard Ming finally stood up.
"How is she, Master? What's the situation?"
"No need to worry, Mr. Zhang. This lady is also a chosen one, blessed with great fortune. I merely helped her calm her mind and body. I'll think of a solution; perhaps when she wakes, there will be a way."
I carried Rachel Lan back to her bedroom, then came out. Yuna Ji seemed to be stirring up trouble again.
"Yuna Ji, have you no shame?"
Redmond couldn't hold back and yelled. Yuna Ji stomped her foot, flew out of the room with a whoosh, made a face at us, and vanished into the night.
"Finally, some peace and quiet."
Basil Bertram smiled and said, and we all laughed. But Redmond still glared fiercely at Master Ming.
"Monk, you say you came here looking for destiny, but I doubt that's all there is to it."
Master Ming didn't intend to reply. He just smiled, sat down quietly, and closed his eyes to meditate.
"That's why I hate monks the most."
Redmond cursed, then sat down with his legs crossed. The atmosphere in the room finally calmed down for the moment.
"But Old Tom is here too? Now things are getting interesting, haha."
Soon Redmond spoke again. Everyone in the room was deep in thought, myself included. After all, with what happened—Old Tom joining forces with the Nether Syndicate and the Immortality Society to try to kill John Chou—if not for the Warden's Armor from the Seventh Tribunal, John Chou would be dead already.
Suddenly, a piercing noise rang out. We immediately floated outside to look. People on the street were gathering, forming a long line and heading toward the center, where the big pillars stood.
All those dressed in tight black outfits also floated up and drifted toward the center.
"Looks like something big is happening. Let's go check it out."
Redmond led the way, flying ahead. We quickly followed, and more and more people gathered, surging toward the center like a tide.